Tommy enjoys all the comforts of home

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police are taking no chances with their most famous detainee, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra. So much so, that they do not even want to risk affording him the "comforts" of an actual jail cell or a prison uniform.

Many have posed the question: "Has anybody seen Tommy in his cell lately?" Apparently no one has.

The 39-year-old son of a former president has spent most of his time either in the interrogation room or resting comfortably in the air-conditioned office of the detention unit chief at Jakarta police headquarters.

Jakarta Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Adang Rochjana claims all the cells are full.

This coincidence means Tommy is accorded the luxuries of the private office which includes access to television and an exclusive bathroom.

His privileges also seem to include a waiver on the customary prison uniform.

Another convenient coincidence it would appear, as police claim to have run out of uniforms in Tommy's size.

"The most important issue is the detention itself. A prison uniform is not an essential issue," Adang insisted.

Detainees usually must wear special outfits, including shorts, to make them identifiable.

It was then just downright poor timing for Tommy's nephew Ari Haryo Wibowo and his wife Gusti Maya Firanti Noor, who had to undergo common treatement while in detention as the cells were neither full nor was there a uniform shortage.

Ari was detained for possession of firearms and Maya for drug possession. A far cry from the alleged murder Tommy is suspected of being involved in.